SSR On Air

Discover the secrets of SSR's successful expansion into the Urban Southeast market directly from Mark Haldeman, a Principal for SSR focused on growing market presence in the region. Mark and SSR On Air host Mike Rogers discuss SSR's initial identification of opportunities to serve our clients with presence in this area; how Mark has been supporting Seth Spangler (Atlanta), Terry Madden (Charlotte), and others in their respective locations to expand existing relationships, talk strategy, and leverage their experiences; and how SSR is expanding relationships with current clients into different service lines as well as targeting new clients in the healthcare, education, and industrial markets.

SSR is thrilled to be a partner in the design and construction of the future home of the Tennessee Titans, the new Nissan Stadium.  In this episode, Mike sits down with Kevin Graham, SSR's project principal, and Hannah Walter, SSR's sustainability consulting manager, to discuss the project, including the LEED Gold-certification goals and an intricate web of MEP systems.Through Hannah's environmental and sustainability expertise, the new Nissan Stadium is not  just a building, it has the potential to be a high performing eco-consciousness facility that will resonate across the city. Meanwhile, Kevin's finesse with the nuts and bolts of stadium design and functionality assures that even the most complex designs translate into seamless fan experiences. Together and with the rest of the project team, we're setting the stage for sports venues of the future!

SSR On Air is excited to welcome Susan Osterberg, our newly appointed CEO, to share her aspirations for SSR in this new "era of and." In her conversation with host Mike Rogers, Susan peels back the layers of strategic leadership and growth to explain that the growth trajectory isn't just about expanding geographies but also about fostering the next generation of leaders. Learn how strategic hiring in targeted regions and investing in talent attraction are just the beginning of our ambitious plans. Susan casts a vision of a workplace where AI integration and leadership development converge, ensuring SSR's continued success and innovation. Listen as they discuss the how SSR becomes an organization that's as dedicated to its people as it is to its performance. 

Ever wonder how the unlikely pairing of a bright-eyed accounting director and a seasoned sustainability consultant could redefine mentorship? As Sara Presley and Alan Smith discuss their mentorship paring, they reveal the highs and lows of their unique journey, proving that sometimes, the most enriching growth comes from the most surprising connections.In a similar vein, Jon Ross, an SSR veteran with over four decades of insight, and Kevin Rumbolt, a hands-on project manager, explore their mentor-mentee dynamic.  Their candid discussion peels back the layers on how SSR's mentorship program isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about leadership, expanding visions beyond the technical jargon, and leveraging innate talents like Kevin's knack for collaboration. Together, they demonstrate that mentorship is more than just guidance—it's a mutual exchange of knowledge that shapes the future leaders of engineering.

In March of 2023, the first official Mentorship Class at  SSR got underway. Comprised of 25 pairings from across the firm, the program was established to provide a platform for colleagues to comfortably engage in discussions pertaining to career goals, challenges, and opportunities. In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike talks with Jessica Nyce, Director of HR, to get a better understanding of how the first year of the program went and future plans. They discuss many of the benefits of the program, including increased knowledge, inspired development of leadership skills, strengthened  interconnectivity between business units, and expanded influence for a strong, meaningful culture at SSR. Later this month we'll release the second part , a conversation with two mentor/mentee pairings. 

Mike sits down with Matt Davis and Casey Hester to talk about a unique and collaborative opportunity the civil group has been doing for a longstanding healthcare client. Late last year, Casey fielded a question asking if SSR had the capability to perform a parking lot assessment. Not positive of our capabilities, he responded with a confident YES and immediately called Andrew Johnson, Principal for our Civil group. Nearly a year later, SSR has performed nearly two dozen asphalt assessments across the country, has a centralized database of their data, and is working on parking lot construction projects. Mike, Casey, and Matt talk about the SSR One approach we take with all our clients, seeking to become a trusted advisor that can help solve all their problems, regardless of where the relationship originated. They talk about some lessons Matt & the civil group have learned about working with healthcare, new technology they're engaging with this client, and how the relationship has continued to evolve and we're helping with other site issues. Matt is a civil EIT for SSR's civil group. He has more than six years of experience and has worked on several critical projects for utility companies with services that include hydraulic modeling, construction administration, and water and sewer improvements.Casey Hester, PE, is a principal and client relationship manager in SSR's Nashville office. With a background in design, engineering consulting, and project management, Casey is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with various healthcare, hospitality, and industrial clients in the southeast. 

Every colleague at SSR contributes to our overall success through building strong relationships, executing for our clients, and owning the growth of our firm. As a 100% ESOP-owned firm, when we all contribute, we all succeed. In celebration of ESOP month — called ESOPtober — we pause to celebrate this collective effort and the impact it has on our firm's culture. Join us as Mike talks with guests Tim Priddy, Andy Brophy, and Karen Espensen about the evolution of SSR's ESOP and the newly formed Employee Ownership Council (EOC).The EOC has formed two committee, education and events, with three goals:Celebrate ownership and generate employee engagement for “ownership thinking” Convey advantages of being part of an employee-owned company to all colleagues Educate colleagues on basic structure and benefits of our ESOP Tim Priddy, CPA, has been SSR's CFO for the past 22 years. He's a member of the Board of Directors and has been an integral part of SSR's growth during his tenure. Andy Brophy, PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, is a Senior Building Performance Engineer,  providing sustainability and high performance building consulting for the design and operation of buildings. Karen Espensen, PE, is a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer for our MEP practice. 

Join us today as our guest, Kevin Wolfford, explains SSR's recently established healthcare council, its committees, and the grand vision behind it all. Learn about the four key committees - market presence, strategic accounts, trends, and national footprint - and how they are taking an "SSR One" approach to the healthcare market to  enhance our national healthcare market presence.  Mike and Kevin delve into the accomplishments of the council's first six months and the efforts to make SSR the firm of choice for all services to the healthcare market.Kevin is a Senior Principal based in our Houston office. With 40 years of experience, he is focused on the development of new clients and markets, maintaining existing client relationships, and growing our presence in the healthcare market.  

For the last time, outgoing CEO Steve Lane sits down with Mike Rogers to reflect on his career and what's next for him.  Steve has been an SSR colleague for 45 years (and Mike's boss for 23 years!), serving in numerous leadership roles over his career including CEO for the past five years. Steve's guidance and attention to detail has led SSR to become the best sustainable business we can be.  Steve shares some fond memories, talks about accomplishments, and recalls marquee projects that have shaped his career at SSR. He also reflects on his volunteer work, specifically with the Ronald McDonald House and American Council of Engineering Companies.  Steve then turns his focus toward the future, discussing his continuing role as Chair of SSR's Board of Directors, passion for giving back, and upcoming plans.

In the latest episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with two SSR colleagues working on a "unicorn" project. Seth Spangler and Andy Brophy are both heavily involved in a new 100,000 SF corporate headquarters building that is seeking to achieve significant cultural and sustainability goals. Dubbed the "un-office office building," the southeastern located facility is aiming for net zero AND occupant comfort. Seth Spangler, PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD+C, is a Principal in SSR's Atlanta office. His responsibilities include client maintenance and the direction of new business development within the region.As a Senior Building Performance Engineer, Andy M. Brophy, PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, provides sustainability and high-performance building consulting for the design and operation of buildings.Disclaimer: Please excuse some audio issues, the communications team flew solo on this recording.

In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Luke Williams and Serena Hostetter, two members of our civil team. Luke and Serena are both heavily involved in the Kentucky / Tennessee chapter of the  American Water Works Association (AWWA). They discuss their passion for the organization, how they got involved, the growth and development they've received as active and engaged members, and the upcoming Water Professionals Conference. Luke Williams, PE, is a Project Manger and civil engineer for our water reuse team. He has over 10 years of experience in the design, construction, and project management of civil engineering projects, specifically groundwater, surface water, and wastewater treatment facilities. Serena Hostetter, EI, is a civil engineer in training. She has a variety of experience including water and wastewater treatment, wastewater collection, and water distribution. Since joining SSR in 2020, Serena has taken an active role in industry organizations, gaining valuable experiences and building relationships. The AWWA is the  largest organization of water supply professionals in the world. They offer educational resources to water professionals,  advocate for safe and sustainable water, collect and share knowledge, and create volunteering opportunities for members.

SSR has internally launched a new process called Virtual Site Capture (VSC), a way to capture 360-degree images of a project, providing a more comprehensive view of the site and a more accurate representation of the conditions – for pre-construction, construction, or existing conditions. Mike talks with Jacob Verdin and Jeff Swayze, two colleagues intimately involved in piloting and launching the program. Jacob Verdin, PE, LEED AP BD+C, is a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer based in SSR's Nashville office. He has extensive knowledge of systems within the sports and entertainment market, having worked on major stadium projects across the United States. Jacob's expertise includes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems design including large central plant systems, smoke management systems, air distribution and acoustics, atrium design, food service support, and building automation and control systems. Jeff Swayze is the Director of Information Technology at SSR. He is responsible for the overall management and direction of the company's IT infrastructure and operations. Jeff has nearly 20 years of experience in the IT industry and is a strategic thinker with a strong understanding of the latest technologies and trends. 

In the latest episode of SSR On Air, host and Chief Growth Officer Mike Rogers sits down with Jessica Nyce and Britten Rush to discuss our recruiting and retention efforts. Britten Rush, PE, talks about his path with SSR. He first joined the firm as an Electrical EIT in 2015, worked in our Nashville office for a few years, and left for a different opportunity. After seeing what another firm had to offer, Britten was recruited back to SSR in 2021 as a Project Manager. He and Mike talk about their respective experiences at other firms and what makes SSR's culture so unique. Jessica Nyce, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCP, is SSR's Director of Human Resources. A repeat SSR On Air guest, she provides insight into how SSR recruits and develops talent, approaching it as a collective effort and not just an HR responsibility. 

May is Nurses Month and we are celebrating with a two-part episode featuring  SSR nurses Debbie Gregory, Debbie Heitzman, and Robert Meiklejohn. Mike talks with each of them about their passion for patient care, how they pivoted from nursing to SSR, and how they reference their nursing background in their current roles. While their individuals stories are unique, all three remain focused on delivering environments that support the nurse and their ability to provide care.Part 1 was released earlier this month - be sure to give it a listen!Debbie Gregory, DNP, RN, is an industry-leading advocate for clinical representation to build functional healthcare environments that improve safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes. She has become an effective liaison between the clinical, architectural, engineering, and construction communities. Debbie's unique experiences allow her to effectively guide the design process toward outcomes that improve efficiency for end users. Debbie Heitzman, RN, has over 30 years of domestic and international experience as a consultant in hospital design, medical equipment planning, clinical consulting, and nursing. She has exceptional knowledge in medical technology and she is considered an expert in the operating room, sterilization, and critical care environments. At SSR, Debbie manages the medical equipment planning practice.Robert Meiklejohn, RN, is an experienced professional with over 20 years of international experience in the healthcare industry.  His extensive knowledge of surgical operations has given him the knowledge, skills, and direction to undertake a holistic approach to medical equipment planning. 

May is Nurses Month and we are celebrating with a two-part episode featuring  SSR nurses Debbie Gregory, Debbie Heitzman, and Robert Meiklejohn. Mike talks with each of them about their passion for patient care, how they pivoted from nursing to SSR, and how they reference their nursing background in their current roles. While their individuals stories are unique, all three remain focused on delivering environments that support the nurse and their ability to provide care.Part 2 will release later this month. Debbie Gregory, DNP, RN, is an industry-leading advocate for clinical representation to build functional healthcare environments that improve safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes. She has become an effective liaison between the clinical, architectural, engineering, and construction communities. Debbie's unique experiences allow her to effectively guide the design process toward outcomes that improve efficiency for end users. Debbie Heitzman, RN, has over 30 years of domestic and international experience as a consultant in hospital design, medical equipment planning, clinical consulting, and nursing. She has exceptional knowledge in medical technology and she is considered an expert in the operating room, sterilization, and critical care environments. At SSR, Debbie manages the medical equipment planning practice.Robert Meiklejohn, RN, is an experienced professional with over 20 years of international experience in the healthcare industry.  His extensive knowledge of surgical operations has given him the knowledge, skills, and direction to undertake a holistic approach to medical equipment planning. 

Mike Rogers sits down with Chris Loftis and Greg Isaacs to discuss SSR's involvement on the recently completed F&M Bank Arena, a multipurpose facility located in Clarksville, TN. The multi-tenant venue will feature a 6,000-seat arena, 24/7 community ice center, rehearsal hall for touring acts, and house the Austin Peay State University men's and women's basketball teams.In this episode, Mike, Greg, and Chris discuss the evolution of SSR's services on the project, originally a mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and technology effort that grew to include commissioning and building enclosure services based on some challenges that arose from the different tenants and usage schedules of the facility. Listen to how SSR was able to provide unique solutions and contribute to the project's success.Chris Loftis, PE, LEED AP BD+C, is a Principal and Mechanical Discipline Manager. Chris has an extensive background in mechanical design for sports & entertainment venues, including work on F&M Bank Arena, Chase Center, and Bridgestone Arena. Greg Isaacs, PE, CxA+BE, BECxP, is a Principal and Building Enclosure Business Unit Director. Greg oversees as team of colleagues dedicated to providing building enclosure services for both new construction and existing facilities. Our team draws from a wide range of experience including contracting, engineering, architecture, and system manufacturing. This experience allows us to provide informed, practical guidance to our clients to achieve their goals for their roof, exterior walls, glazing, and below-grade waterproofing systems.

October is Employee Ownership Month and as a 100%-employee owned firm, it's a big deal at SSR. In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers sits down with two colleagues to discuss the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan), their passion, and how it sets SSR apart from our competitors. Andy Brophy, Building Performance Engineer, and Kristen Haltom, Project Manager, discuss how the opportunity to be an owner influenced their decision to work at SSR and how our ownership culture influences them daily. 

It's true what they say – everything is bigger in Texas! In the latest episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Kevin Wolfford, a senior principal at SSR, to discuss the record growth that is occurring in Texas and how SSR is aligning our resources to respond. Learn how our focus on growth in the Texas triangle (Houston / DFW / Central Texas) is a benefit to our colleagues, clients, and communities. 

In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Jessica Nyce, Director of Human Resources, to discuss SSR's recruiting practices and culture. Mike and Jessica explore many of the unique elements of SSR's culture and how SSR supports, engages, and drives colleagues. They also discuss elements of the ESOP that contribute to everyone's sense of ownership.If you're interested in joining SSR, Jessica overviews the many career fairs our colleagues will be attending this fall. You can also explore open opportunities on the Join Our Team page of our website, linked in the show notes. Join Our Team here: https://www.ssr-inc.com/life-at-ssr/join-the-team-job-openings/

In the latest episode of SSR On Air, Mike returns to his sports roots and chats with two of our  Sports & Entertainment MVPs, Kevin Graham and Scott Terry. Together they discuss the evolution of SSR's sports practice from our initial project at Bridgestone Arena to becoming a nationally recognized, award winning, engineering design firm for the sports market. All three have a true passion for sports that really shows while discussing their career paths, favorite projects, and memorable teaming partners. Two themes that emerge are the relationships that have been formed and memories made with SSR colleagues and industry partners. Mike, Kevin, and Scott also give their thoughts on the future of the sports market and what is being done to draw people out of their homes and back into stadiums and arenas.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with two leaders for our transportation practice - Alex Ray over our CEI (construction engineering & inspection) group and David Donoho is focused on growing the practice. Together they talk about how SSR helps solve our transportation clients' problems through all phases of a project - planning, design, and construction.Listen as Alex and David discuss the evolution of SSR's transportation services and geographic specialties - including the recent opening of a new Alabama office. Where do you think we'll go next?

In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers interviews Geoffrey King, Principal and Service Line Director for SSR's Technology Group. Geoffrey shares how his childhood dream of pursuing a career in law enforcement paved the way for his career in technology. Plus, learn more about the specific services and expertise our technology team offers, including audio / visual, security consulting, and clinical consulting. 

In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers interviews William Loeffel, Principal and Senior Operations Director, and Simon Gandica, Principal and Lead Discipline Resource Manager, on the recent organization structure changes in SSR's MEP group. William and Simon are two of eight leaders across the firm who are responsible for managing projects and assigning project teams. They also discuss the value of sharing resources across disciplines rather than location as well as project management, mentorship, and staff engagement.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers chats with Ian Engstrom, PE, Principal and Operations Manager for SSR's horizontal design team. Ian leads a group of engineers and project managers focused on providing civil engineering services to clients across the Southeast. He talks about the services we offer including structural engineering, site civil, and transportation design. Ian also discusses what's next for his team, how he volunteers during his free time, and the story behind his unique bowties! If you're a current or prospective client, listen to learn about the range of civil services our team can provide. For colleagues, listen to learn about the depth of resources our horizontal design team can provide your clients.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers sits down with David Cooper, Principal, who leads our industrial market initiative. David and Mike discuss the types of plants and processes we engineer in industrial facilities, from edible oils to dog food. David also shares what he's looking forward to most in our industrial group, including the learning opportunities and growth of our entry-level colleagues. Bonus — find out if the non-nutritive cereal varnish on Corn Flakes (thank you, Clark Griswold from Christmas Vacation) is a real thing!

SSR's sustainable solutions group and existing building commissioning groups have joined forces to establish our Building Optimization + Sustainability group, led by Principals Victor Saeh and Eric Sheffer. In this episode, learn more about the services provided by this group, including health and wellness certifications for new buildings and troubleshooting and optimization of equipment for existing buildings. Our diverse team brings decades of collective experience to each and every project, with subject matter experts in a variety of roles. For clients, we hope this episode will provide clarification for all the services our dedicated Building Optimization + Sustainability group brings. For colleagues, we hope you learn about the depth of resources, internally and externally, this group can provide your clients.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike Rogers and Debbie Heitzman, Principal, talk about the ins and outs of medical equipment planning. From the ground floor to the top, our MEQ team plans for every piece of equipment, like thermometers, MRI machines, mortuary fridges, and even disco balls! Learn more about our growing team across the nation and how they stay up to date on the latest technologies in equipment.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Clay Seckman, SSR's healthcare market leader, ahead of his upcoming retirement. Clay and Mike discuss SSR's unique emphasis and approach to building and investing in relationships (truly friendships) with our clients, a value that dates back to founders. If you're a current or former client, we hope this represents the experiences you've had throughout the years with SSR. Colleagues, we hope this mirrors the way you approach all our clients and projects.

On this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Andrew Johnson, PE, LEED AP, CPESC, Principal and Operations Director for SSR's horizontal team in Nashville. Andrew leads a group of engineers and designers focused on providing civil engineering services to clients across Tennessee and the surrounding states. He talks about the core work they do — focused on plants, pipes, and pumps for water and water reclamation facilities. In the second season of SSR On Air listeners can expect episodes featuring SSR's market and practice leaders diving into our work! If you're a current or potential client looking for civil services, this quick episode will introduce you to our capabilities and hopefully answer some initial questions you have about the work we do in the communities we serve. If you're an SSR colleague, this will give you a great insight to a service line you may not be familiar with. 

Ever wondered what exactly SSR's building enclosure services entail? On the latest episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Greg Isaacs, PE, CxA+BE, BECxP, Principal and leader of SSR's building enclosure practice to discuss all things building enclosure. Greg will explain the different services we offer, the value our building enclosure team brings to an owner / architect / project team, and the credentials of the team.As SSR On Air rolls into our second season, you can expect more episodes from SSR's market and practice leaders diving into our work! If you're a current or potential client looking for building enclosure services, this quick episode will introduce you to our capabilities and hopefully answer some initial questions you have about the service. If you're an SSR colleague, this will give you a great insight to a service line you may not be familiar with. 

On this episode of SSR On Air, Karley, Kristen, Anna, Laura, and Hannah continue their Women's Month Roundtable conversation from earlier this month.  Listen as they discuss advice they'd give to their younger selves, the importance of representation in the industry, and the value of networking.

In recognition of Women's History Month, SSR On Air assembled a group of female colleagues from across the company to have a roundtable discussion about their background, experience, and lives. In part 1, colleagues Karley Fant, Kristen Haltom, Anna Hayman, Laura Ludwig, and Hannah Walter discuss how they got to SSR and in the engineering field. Stay tuned for part 2 later this month! 

Continuing our 54th anniversary celebration, Mike talks with Bo Butler and Jim Seckel about SSR's expansion into the horizontal markets and vertical service line diversification. Up first is Bo, leader of SSR's Horizonal Business Unit, to discuss SSR's entry into civil, transportation, and structural. Next Jim looks back on SSR's first new building commissioning projects and how that service line evolved into our building optimization + sustainability and building enclosure practices.  We hope you enjoy listening and learning about SSR's growth and diversification over the past 54 years! 

This month, SSR is celebrating our 54th anniversary! In recognition of this accomplishment, Mike sits down with two SSR-lifers, Clay Seckman and Jon Ross. Clay, son of SSR founder Tom Seckman, talks about SSR's history and evolution in the healthcare market, from an MEP focused firm to a full service engineering design and consulting partner. Next Jon Ross joins Mike to discuss SSR's growth into different vertical markets and geographies. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Mike will talk with other firm leaders about SSR's expansion into different service lines and horizontal markets. 

Susan Osterberg, SSR's Chief Operating Officer, sits down with Mike to talk about their shared goal of making SSR an employer of choice.  Susan breaks down how she's intentional about keeping people first by spending time with clients, re-recruiting our colleagues, and continuously learning about what SSR does as an organization. She shares her vision for SSR — to expect high performance from our colleagues AND to be a compassionate organization that cares about our culture and people.

Steve Lane, SSR's CEO and Board Chair, sits down with Mike for part two of a one-on-one conversation. Picking up from November's chat, Steve discusses the impact that COVID-19 has had on SSR (including looking forward), what he's currently focused on, how he is planning on engaging our colleagues as we plan for the future, and what being a high-performing firm means to him. 

Steve Lane, SSR's CEO and Board Chair, is naturally competitive. A former aspiring baseball player, Steve learned early in life one should always strive to do the best you can to put yourself in a position to compete. In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike talks with Steve about how this mantra has guided him in life and how he is still driven by it today. This is part one of a two part interview. Please check back in December for part two. 

Each October, SSR celebrates Employee Ownership Month (EOM)—a month-long celebration of the undeniable benefits employee ownership provides to employees, companies, and local communities. In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike sits down with Tim Priddy, CFO of SSR, to discuss what an ESOP is and what it means to SSR.As a 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) firm, SSR is positioning ourselves for future growth and stability. Mike and Tim discuss the evolution of SSR's ESOP, the benefits to colleagues, and the impact that the ESOP has on SSR's culture.

Thank you for tuning in for the second episode of SSR On Air. Mike Rogers, SSR's Chief Growth Officer, sits down with Rob Barrick, Chair Emeritus, as he reflects on his five-decade career at SSR. Mike and Rob discuss the opportunities that took Rob from mechanical engineer to CEO, the impact each founder has had on SSR's culture, and the growth potential Rob sees on the horizon for the firm.  

Welcome to SSR on Air. Hosted by Mike Rogers, this monthly podcast will sit down with firm leaders, colleagues, and clients about what is going on internally at SSR and in the larger engineering community. Before we jump into all of the great interviews we have planned, we want to spend this first episode introducing our host to you our listeners. Mike Rogers is our current Chief Growth Officer. He's been with SSR since 2000 and has served in a variety of leadership roles. A mechanical engineer by trade, Mike has nearly four decades of experience in engineering consulting. Previous to his current role, Mike was Market Sector Leader for Sports & Entertainment. He's been involved in many high-profile venues, including the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Bridgestone Arena, located here in Nashville.